How many is too many?

ive heard basset hounds r great dogs but it is very common for them to get severe hip problems.

oooooh that can be tricky, because it could go either way.

If its possible to bring the new dog over for a "looksee" on how he reacts with the dog and cat, that would be great. Just to see if they are compatible.

Hi ya snickerdoodle

I worked at a rescue center and my husband volunteered there also. We're fools for the big guys and I mean BIG! We had 3 St. Bernards, we're now down to one . We brought doggies home all the time to give them a break from the kennel life. I'd talk to the shelter, most of the time they will grant you a trial period if things don't work out. But some tips on getting a compatable pupper dog are .... since she's female I wouldn't advice bringing in another female, it's also good to bring in a pup, under 6 months or so. That way the female doesn't feel threatened rather natural instincts kick in and she becomes "mother" so to speak. Also the pup understands its role in the house. If you bring in another female adult or a male adult, it's competing for territory time and that is NO fun. Once you get the new pupper dog separate feeding and drinking bowls and separate toys. Try not to scold your female for being jealous of you paying attention to the other dog, that just makes it even worse for her to assert her role in the house. That's all I can think of, send me a PM if you have some other questions, if I can't answer them I'm sure I can find someone that can.

God bless,
Dweebs (Reg)

I'm planning on buying a second dog very soon. This thread will be a great help.

Two dogs isn't too many... but I have to say this, be careful getting another female. Not ALL female dogs are dominant, but a lot of times they are and they will fight even with a small dog to be 'top dog'. I know lots of ppl successfully have two females in the same house... but it's just something to think about. I've watched my cousins dog attack her dalmation sister (a dog that cowered at the site of her) and her tiny poodle sister... all for the sake of being the top dog... but she has never attacked the male dog in the house, ever. A lot of ppl will also say this only happens if they aren't fixed... but this dog has been fixed since she was 6 weeks.

Since your G.S. is so young, you can practically bring anything into the house. I had an alpha 13 year old shep/husky/golden mix whom I thought would not adapt to another dog in her home, but I ended up taking in an 8 year old female italian greyhound/maltese mix and six months later, a 1 & 1/2 year old male pitbull/shep/husky mix. Aside from a short period of adjustment, they got along famously (with my cat, too) and loved living in a pack. Dogs are social animals and will usually adapt to more than one animal in the house - the trick, like dweebs said, is adjusting them to each other properly. Usually separating them at the beginning and allowing contact in fairly neutral places (even the backyard is less threatening than your kitchen or bedroom!) will help.

Also, sheperds are generally assertive dogs by nature - a basset hound is not. You may not have any trouble mingling the two. But be aware that with two breeds of very different physical adaptability, the basset won't be able to keep up with the sheperd on walks and stuff like that. I haven't had any problems bringing dogs of the same sex into the same household as long as one is a dominant personality and the other isn't. That's the key to them getting along more than what sex they are. Having all the dogs neutered will facilitate everything!!

Good luck - hope you enjoy your new pup.

In our house we have seven small dogs, bought at around 18-months intervals So I understand you worries about introducing another animal, but from experience I very much doubt you'll have any problems. The pups might be wary of each other at first, but I think you'll be surprised at how they end up living in harmony, if not being friends Wishing you the best!

My husband and I have 4 dogs. 2 boys and 2 girls. We have a larger mixed breed, corgi, westie, and an affie. I recommend researching a breed to see which pups will get along well with your german shepherd. If he is not one to run and play, a hyper breed (like affenpinscher) would probably not be a good mix. Devoting time to raising doggies is hard work, but the love that is reciprocated is so fufulling! Good Luck!

If you are going buy a second dog, then good luck.

I have 4 dogs, 2 males and 2 females. A white Shepherd (11 years old), Shepherd/Collie (7 months) and 2 Jack Russells (4 and 11). The Shepherd/Collie mix was brought in a few months ago. The dogs can be okay with him but he's just to active for them and won't stop messing with them to play with him. I say it's good that your dog is young so you probably shouldn't have that problem. There is a dominance issue with him and the JRT though. I've never had this problem with any dogs but I would probably suggest getting the opposite sex.

I don't think two dogs is too many at all, if you've got the time, space and love for more than one (it sounds like you do). Honestly, when I saw this thread, I expected to see that you had 20 pets or something!!!!